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Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Apple’s announcement of HealthKit at WWDC 2014 came with a couple of surprises and some odd disappointments. Most rumors claimed that this was more than just a repository of health information, and actually the platform that would enable Apple’s wearable products to make sense. The problem is that Apple hasn’t yet announced any wearable for this to happen, though that could change soon.

Apple had filed for the HealthKit trademark in the US back in July, and many of us worried that we only saw medical devices being mentioned. Today the company has just filed for the same trademark in Europe, and this time we do see classifications that include watches, fitness sensors and medical devices. The complete list mentions: Health, fitness, exercise, and wellness sensors, monitors and displays; medical apparatus and devices… Horological and chronometric instruments; watches; clocks; timepieces; chronographs for use as timepieces; chronometers; watchstraps; watch bands; cases for watches, clocks, and horological and chronometric instruments; parts for watches, clocks, and horological and chronometric instruments; jewelry.

This is sadly not a hint that we are getting Apple wearables, as this too could allow third-party wearables to do the trick just as well as any Apple product. What’s great is to see that the scope of the product is broadening. Hopefully we do see anApple wearable launched in December as rumors have mentioned.